The candidate of the Action Alliance in Saturday’s Rivers South-East Senatorial District by-election, Dr Douglas Fabeke, has petitioned the Independent National Electoral Commission and the Inspector-General of Police, Tunji Disu, alleging widespread irregularities during the poll.
Fabeke, who had earlier rejected the outcome of the election after INEC declared the Peoples Democratic Party candidate, Olaka Nwogu, winner, called for an independent investigation into the conduct of some electoral officials and security personnel.
In the petition dated June 22 and titled, “Complaint against alleged electoral misconduct, violence, intimidation, collusion and irregularities during Rivers South-East Senatorial District bye-election and demand for investigation,” Fabeke alleged voter suppression, intimidation, violence, vote-buying and manipulation of electoral materials across the district.
He claimed that reports from his agents indicated that in some polling units, particularly in Bomu, Gokana Local Government Area, presiding officers failed to properly count votes recorded during the election.
Fabeke further alleged that some INEC officials and electoral materials were moved to a hotel where ballot papers belonging to the Action Alliance were removed and destroyed.
